Start Strong

August 2012 e-newsletter


Two girls playing
Dear colleague, 

The Government has started work on developing the National Early Years Strategy. The Expert Advisory Group (of which Start Strong is a member) has begun to meet on a regular basis. The main focus of Start Strong's work over the coming months will be trying to influence the National Early Years Strategy to ensure it is as ambitious and effective as possible.

 

The Government's consultation process on its strategies for children took place earlier in the summer, and this newsletter includes our submission in response to the consultation.

 

This month's newsletter also includes a new Policy Brief - this one focuses on supports for families and for parenting. It's the second in a series of Policy Briefs that we are publishing on issues of central importance for the National Early Years Strategy.

 

We also look at a new international ranking of countries' pre-school performance, a new book that questions the role of the free market in early years services, the Nutbrown Review from the UK on qualifications in early care and education, and research that raises significant questions about the appropriate age to start teaching children to read.

Families: children's first educators

 

FamilyEarlier in the summer we published the first in a new series of Policy Briefs. This week we launch the second in the series. While the first Policy Brief focused on policies for under-3s ('Early Learning'), our second focuses on policies to support families and parenting.  

 

Titled 'Families: Children's First Educators', the Policy Brief starts from the observation that children's own homes are, in very many ways, the most important setting for their early care and education. Read more 

Submission on Government strategies  

 

DCYA logoThe Government recently carried out a consultation process - called 'Improving the Lives of Children and Young People' - in which it sought submissions to inform a number of Government strategies on children. 

 

Start Strong's submission focused specifically on the 0-6 age range, and included many of the recommendations that we will be making to the Government this autumn as part of our advocacy work on the National Early Years Strategy. Read more 
Nutbrown review of qualifications in England

 

Foundations for QualityProfessor Cathy Nutbrown from the University of Sheffield recently carried out a major review of qualification requirements for early years educators in England. 

 

While there are significant differences between the English and Irish early care and education systems, it is striking how many of Cathy Nutbrown's recommendations are relevant here - especially her call for a fully qualified early years workforce. Read more
Should early care and education be a "market"?
 
Book coverThe large majority of early care and education services in Ireland are privately run. It's a feature that Ireland shares with a number of other countries, most notably the US, the UK and the Netherlands. A new book - "Childcare Markets" - explores the effects of private provision and the free market on early care and education.

A recurring theme in the book is the inadequacy of viewing parents as "consumers" of early care and education services - a view that is implicit in the "market" model of provision. The book suggests that private provision can have positive outcomes, but only where Governments play a strong role in regulating and coordinating the market.
 Read more 
Starting Well Index
 
Starting WellThe Economist Intelligence Unit - a research company linked to The Economist magazine - recently developed an index that ranks early childhood education (though only for 3-6 year olds) across 45 countries.
 
Scandinavian countries top the index - Finland comes first, with Sweden and Norway close behind. Ireland comes well down the ranking. Read more  
When should children learn to read?
 
Research recently published in the journal Early Childhood Research Quarterly suggests there may be no benefit from making children start reading at an early age. 
 
A study in New Zealand has found that by the age of 11, children who start learning to read at the age of 7 have caught up with those who start learning to read at the age of 5. Read more  
Start Strong is recruiting

Start Strong logoAs you may have seen in our recent job notices, Start Strong is currently recruiting a Policy and Advocacy Officer. This is a part-time post to provide maternity cover.
 
The deadline for applications is Close of Business on Monday 3rd September. For a job description and details of how to apply, see the job ad available on our website.  
 

Start Strong
Advancing children's early care and education in Ireland

Like us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter

 www.startstrong.ie
+353-1-662-4018
 
We've moved!
We've moved, and we have a new phone number too (01-6624018). If you're trying to find us, there's a map on our website
Find out more
Start Strong logo
Supporters
Are you listed on the Supporters page on our website? If not, and you want to help us grow, send us an email now.
Cover - economics report
The Economics of Children's Early Years
Start Strong's latest report presents the compelling economic case for Government investment in early care and education.  Read it now
Cover of If I Had a Magic Wand
If I Had a Magic Wand
Our recent publication presents children's own views on early care and education services. Read it online